Tracheostoma valve

Abstract

A vocal valve to be applied to a tracheostomized person's neck comprises an air passage to be connected with the tracheostoma for connecting the trachea with the surroundings. A check valve member is provided in the air passage, wherein the check valve member is normally closed but allows for inhalation through the air passage. The vocal valve further comprises a manually adjustable member for establishing a free air flow through the air passage at inhalation as well as exhalation.

1. A vocal valve to be mounted to a tracheostomized person's neck, comprising:
 an air passage to be connected to the tracheostoma for connecting trachea with atmospheric surroundings;  
 a heat and moisture exchanging element provided in the air passage;  
 a check valve member in the air passage normally closed but allowing inhalation through the air passage; and  
 a manually adjustable member for establishing a free air flow through the air passage at inhalation as well as exhalation, said manually adjustable member comprising a housing rotatably mounted to a bottom plate for connection to the tracheostoma and enclosing the check valve member.  
 
   
   
     2. The vocal valve according to  claim 1 , wherein the interior of the housing through at least one opening in the wall of the housing communicates with the atmospheric surroundings via the heat and moisture exchanging element. 
   
   
     3. The vocal valve according to  claim 2 , wherein the heat and moisture exchanging element is detachably mounted to the housing on the outside surface thereof. 
   
   
     4. The vocal valve according to  claim 2 , wherein the check valve member is constructed to cover in the closed position thereof the opening and to block the air passage there through. 
   
   
     5. The vocal valve according to  claim 4 , wherein the check valve member comprises an elastic membrane which is constructed to keep the opening uncovered in a relieved condition thereof. 
   
   
     6. The vocal valve according to  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a member which is displaceable by rotating the housing in relation to the elastic membrane is constructed to keep the elastic membrane in a position covering the opening in one rotated position of the housing, and to allow the relieved condition of the elastic membrane with the opening uncovered in another rotated position of the housing.  
 
   
   
     7. The vocal valve according to  claim 4 , wherein the check valve member comprises an elastic membrane which is constructed to take a position in a relieved condition thereof wherein the opening is covered. 
   
   
     8. The vocal valve according to  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a member displaceable by rotation of the housing in relation to the elastic membrane is constructed to keep the elastic membrane in a position in which the opening is uncovered, in one rotated position of the housing.  
 
   
   
     9. The vocal valve according to  claim 8 , wherein the displaceable member is mounted stationarily on the bottom plate and the elastic membrane is located on the inside of the wall of the housing to be rotatable together with the housing.